July closes strong for shore anglers

You can’t say that July was an ideal month for fishing around New Jersey. But, at least the final few days did provide enough of a break that anglers were able to venture forth, both in the back and out in the canyons.

The big boats found all sorts of excitement waiting for them in the usual spots. Big eye tuna were in abundance but there were plenty of yellowfin and bluefin to add to the catch total. A few white marlin were reported, some nice sized mahi and at least one blue marlin weighing 356-lbs. Trolling seemed to be the key early in the day while chunking provided success later in the afternoon.

If the canyons are beyond your range but you are looking for some good action, I suggest visiting some of the inshore spots, such as the Cigar, Avalon Shoals, Sea Isle Ridge and AC Ridge. Trollers out there have had a nice mixed bag lately, hooking into king mackerel, medium sized bluefish, bonito and little tunny. And, if it black sea bass that you crave go drifting over the artificial reefs or wrecks. As an added bonus, tautog or blackfish are now back on the catch list here in New Jersey. You can keep just one measuring at least 15-inches but one is better than none. This current taug season runs through Nov. 15. There are some flounder on the reefs but somehow it does not seem like they are there in the numbers they should be. There are some huge sand eel schools out there so that should help keep the predators around.

While the number of flounder offshore seems down, the number of them in the back waters remains very good, especially for this time of the season. Anglers in the southern part of Cape May County have been doing very well drifting between the Wildwoods and Cape May. There also is some steady flattie action behind Margate and Longport and up behind LBI.

Kingfish numbers seem to have tapered off but some continue to be taken in the surf and from some of the piers. Surf fishing for them at Cape May Point probably has been the best. Around the inlet jetties you can expect to find triggerfish. And you can find some white perch in places such as the Egg Harbor River.

There is no doubt that a lot of fishing days were blown out during July but that did not stop the crabbers from continuing to have an epic season on those tasty guys. Even with the wind blowing 25 and rain and fog you could find people crabbing from docks and seawalls and filling their baskets and coolers.

ACROSS THE BAY Down in Delaware and coastal Maryland the summer flounder remains king of the backwater fishing. The Lewes Canal, Indian River Inlet and Massey’s Ditch all have been producing. Out in the ocean the flatties are being found at the A and B buoys, Old Grounds, and Sites 10 and 11. Those latter two areas also have had their share of black sea bass.

The Lewes Canal also continues to give up some slot sized striped bass. There are a lot of throwbacks but still that slotter shows up frequently enough to make it worth your effort. Visit the piers if you are looking for spot or croakers because there are plenty of them. Bloodworms are your key to success.